Pheasant broods up 33%
Cory Flor
Hand County Conservation Officer
he 2012 regular pheasant
hunting season is nearly
upon us.
I thought it would be time to
discuss the Hand County pheasant brood routes. The pheasant
brood routes are conducted during the same time frame every
year between July 25 and August
15. Each route is 30 miles long
and the survey begins at sunrise.
Certain conditions must be met
in order for the brood route to be
considered a primary run. There
must be no wind, sunshine and
heavy dew on the grass. Hand
County has three pheasant brood
routes; a north brood route, a
middle brood route and a south
brood route. With only 20 days
to run the routes sometimes getting the perfect conditions can be
tough, but this year I had perfect
conditions the ﬁrst time I ran the
route. I typically run the middle
brood route and other GFP employees run the other two routes.
This year the middle brood route

T

showed an increase of seven
broods in 2012 from 2011; it increased from 21 broods to 28
broods. That is an increase of
about 33 percent from last year.
Unfortunately we are not where
we were three or four years ago
when the hunting was outstanding. Hunters will no doubt have
to work hard again this year to
get their birds, but they can still
have a quality hunt without limiting out every day. The ﬁrst
week or two of the season should
be pretty good with the majority
of the crops having been harvested already.

H

unters need to be aware of
several laws and regulations
for pheasant season. First of all,
make sure you buy your license
prior to hunting. You can buy a
license online at the SD Game,
Fish and Parks website or visit
one of our license agents in Miller. When you buy your non-resident license you need to pick
your start dates. If you plan on
hunting opening weekend you
can mark October 20 as your ﬁrst

Hand County
Public Hunting Lands

start date and then most hunters
pick the last ﬁve days of the season for their second start date.
However, prior to the beginning
of the start dates hunters may
change their start dates. For example, if you pick December 25
for your second start date you
may change it anytime prior to
December 25.
The non-resident small game
license is not valid for waterfowl. Non-residents may hunt
small game and predators and
varmints with the small game
license. If you want to change
your start dates you need to go to
the place where you bought it, or
do it yourself online at the GFP
website.
If someone asks to see your
hunting license, you have to
show it according to the law. It
doesn’t matter whether the person is a law enforcement ofﬁcer or not, you still need to show
them if they ask.
Wearing hunter orange is not
required by law for small game
hunting; however, with the number of hunters
in the ﬁeld during the pheasant
season, especially the opener,
it is still a good
idea to wear orange for safety
reasons.
If you are unsure of a shot,
don’t
shoot.
There will always be another
pheasant. Safety should be the
number one priority of every
hunter in the
ﬁeld.
Trespassing is the most
common violation during the
pheasant
season. If you are
going to hunt
private
land
make sure you
get written permission
from
the landowner
and make sure
you know where
their
property is located. If
you are convicted of knowingly
trespassing your
hunting, privileges will be revoked for a period of one year.
If you are going to road hunt
you need to pull
your
vehicle
over to the furthest right-hand
side of the road,
turn your vehicle off and close
the doors on the
vehicle. If you
shoot a pheasant
and it falls onto
private proper-

Photo by Jaimi M. Lammers | The Miller Press

ty while road hunting the hunter may retrieve the bird as long
as he puts his gun down before
crossing the fence, and he must
be on foot. Remember, when
hunting road rights-of-way there
is a 660-foot safety zone around
occupied dwellings (houses),
livestock, schools and churches.
The Department of Game, Fish
and Parks gives out white Safety Zone signs to landowners who
request them.
The pheasant season shooting hours are 12 noon until sunset October 20 through October
26, and 10 a.m. thereafter until
sunset. This law is probably the
second most common violation
during pheasant season. Shooting hours end at sunset, not onehalf hour after like big game seasons. A sunrise/sunset table is in
the back of the 2012 South Dakota Hunting Handbook that is easy
to follow.
The daily limit of pheasants is
three roosters with a possession
limit of 15 after the ﬁfth day of
the season. If you plan on hunting public land, remember that
you need to use non-toxic shot.
However, you may use lead shot
on state school lands, Walk-InAreas and road rights-of-way. Remember to be courteous to other
hunters and landowners. Don’t
clean your game in the road
ditch, as it is considered littering
and it looks awful for the people
who live here.
If you plan on transporting your pheasants, you need to
have a fully feathered head attached, or a fully feathered wing
or one leg attached. However,
if you shoot a rooster without a
visible spur you need to have a
head or wing attached. Hunters may only transport their own
lawfully possessed game birds. If

you have your birds frozen they
must be packaged no more than
two per package in order to facilitate identiﬁcation and count of
species.

T

his would be a great year for
people to pick up waterfowl
hunting. A lot of waterfowl are in
the area and it should be a great
year for waterfowl hunting. Nonresidents who wish to hunt waterfowl in S.D. need to apply by
July 5 of that year in order to
have a chance to draw a license.
If you didn’t do this by July 5
this year and already drew a license, it is too late to apply for
this year. Non-resident waterfowl
licenses are limited to 4,000 licenses statewide and they are all
taken during the ﬁrst drawing. In
order to assist waterfowl hunters
the S.D. GFP has added a thunderstorm map to their website to
show where waterfowl numbers
are the highest in the state. Also,
I have had several waterfowl access trails mowed to the water’s
edge on area GPAs to assist hunters with water access.
This year, 15 rooster pheasants will be banded for the Miller Chamber of Commerce. The
birds will be released prior to
the ﬁrst day of the regular pheasant season. When you harvest a
pheasant make sure you look for
a band on its leg, as each band
is worth a prize and one lucky
hunter will win a gun.
If you have questions or comments feel free to contact my ofﬁce at 853-3644. Remember, this
is a very busy time of year so it
may take a few days to return
your calls. If you would like to report a wildlife violation you can
call the Tips Hotline 1-888-OVERBAG (1-888-683-7224) or you can
contact the sheriff’s ofﬁce, 8532408.

The Miller Press

2012 Hunting Guide - page 2

Citizens In Action have long
supported Pheasants for Wessington
Wessington’s
Prom Party, Youth
community group,
Coaches,
PlayCitizens
in
Acground Equipment,
tion, is celebrating Friday, Oct. 19 · Wessington Gym
Governor’s
Youth
its 25th anniversaLeadership Camp,
ry this year. Citi- Dinner, 5-7 p.m. · Auction & Raffle
Wessington Comzens in Action has
munity Club, local
been known by sevblood drive, Amereral names through the years. It original- ican Legion, Highway 14 ﬂowers, Wessly started when the Wessington chapter ington Public Library, W.E.D.C., Cancer
of the Jaycees disbanded and people were Walk, Relay for Life, and several commulooking to still help. It became the Pheas- nity dances.
ants for Wessington group, with a goal of
The CIA always keeps a balance availhelping maintain the pheasant popula- able so that they can raise birds and habtion of the area through raising birds and itat in a hurry if ever the need arises. A
planting food plots. Several fundraisers banquet, auction and rafﬂes will be held
were held, but the most successful was in the Wessington Gym on Friday, Oct. 19.
the Pheasant Banquet. It has become the Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m.,
mainstay of the organization’s funding.
and the purchase of a ticket will enter a
The goal of the group has evolved into person in a rafﬂe to give away 100 dollars
one of not only pheasant restoration but in Wessington Bucks to each of 25 lucky
that of community service. The Citizens in people. Everyone is eligible, including the
Action (CIA) now spends half of the pro- children, and the money can be spent at
ceeds on community projects. Some of any of the local businesses, including the
these projects in the past have been: Af- auction held after the dinner. Everybody is
ter School Program, Hunter Safety Pro- welcome to come help celebrate 25 years
gram, Kids Fishing Derby, Swimming Pool of service.
Fund, Kids Pool Party, Shrine Circus, Post

Aim for hunting safety
With the hunting and
trapping season fast approaching, it’s important
to keep safety in mind
when venturing outdoors.
Both hunters and nonhunters who live near
hunting land have a responsibility to protect
themselves, their pets and
livestock and their property. Here are some tips from
American Family Insurance:
Protect yourself
Many states require
new hunters to complete
a hunter-safety course before taking to the ﬁeld.
These courses will provide important safety precautions like dressing in
proper apparel, whether
its camouﬂage or blaze orange. People who hike in
areas where hunters may

be present should wear
bright clothing. Don’t let
children go on hikes without an adult.
Protect your livestock
Even landowners who
never pull a trigger or set
traps must take precautions to protect their land
and animals during hunting season.
Because pets and livestock are sometimes mistaken for deer or are
caught in traps, it is wise
to lock up animals that
usually have free reign of
your land. Many farmers
spray paint an “X” on the
ﬂanks of grazing livestock
to help avoid confusion.
Pen livestock near farm
buildings to further distinguish them from deer, and
check your animals and
gates daily.

Protect your property
Homeowners
should
think twice before opening
up their acreage to anyone
except family members
and close friends. They expose not only their property to accidental losses, but
also themselves to liability
and potential litigation.
If you don’t want hunters on your land, post “No
Trespassing” or “No Hunting” signs around the perimeter of your property. If
you do permit access, require the hunters to check
in each time they enter your property, and get
the names of each person
in the hunting party. Often one person who obtains permission to hunt
on a farm feels free to invite others without informing the landowner.

‘You can taste the diﬀerence’
at Bob’s Drive-In

I

f you’re looking for good, down-home
cooking, stop at Bob’s Drive-In.
Owner Tara Koeck says everything on
the menu is homemade…fresh, not packaged. “If you order gravy, you get homemade gravy,” she said.
Hunters are invited to stop by for breakfast, and especially taste her homemade
doughnuts. She will also prepare lunches to
take to the ﬁeld. Come in for supper after the hunt, and unwind after a day
outdoors.
Broasted chicken is always a favorite, and with
the warmer, there is no
waiting for it to bake.
Although
the
name is “Bob’s
Drive-In,”
inside
seating is available.
In addition to
meals,
you
will
ﬁnd ice cream products and old-fashioned
malts.
Once you’ve stopped
for breakfast, lunch or supper,

you’ll know why the slogan is, “You can
taste the difference.”
The drive-in is closed Mondays. Hours
are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday; 11 a.m. to 8
p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; and 7 a.m.
to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The phone number is 893-0101.

fter years of “tinkering” and
helping his dad, Tony Welch
opened the doors to his own repair shop, Tony’s Repair, a couple of
years ago.
“It’s good to know you have a dependable repairman at hand, especially if you’re from out of town.” Welch
said.
A St. Lawrence native, Tony opened
his shop at 206 N. Catalpa, in St. Lawrence. He changes oil, repairs and replaces tires, and completes other light
repair work on vehicles.
His shop hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to
12 noon on Saturdays. If your vehicle needs an oil change, a tire change
or other service while hunting in the
area, give Welch a call at 605-853-2781
or 605-870-1262.

While you’re in town,
subscribe to The Miller
Press for $35 in Hand and
surrounding counties, or
$45 for out of county.

Happy Hunting!

The Miller Press

2012 Hunting Guide - page 3

Training a gun dog
Your hunting dog will
learn dozens of commands
over the course of his
hunting years. Some will
be quite basic and others
much more advanced. It
is safe to say that there is
one command that is possibly the most important â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
Whoa. It is the command
that has the power to stop
everything, and if your dog
cannot grasp it, it can be
tragic. Maybe that sounds
dramatic, but it is quite
true.
In the most basic terms,
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whoaâ&#x20AC;? is a command that
tells the dog to immediately stop and stay. To a nonhunting house pet, the
term â&#x20AC;&#x153;whoaâ&#x20AC;? is similar to
â&#x20AC;&#x153;stay,â&#x20AC;? but it should also
stop any behavior that is
currently happening. When
the well-trained dog hears
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whoa,â&#x20AC;? he will stop in
his tracks and wait there
for further instruction. This

command allows the trainer to stop everything and
retrace steps, correct errors, or make adjustments.
The most pivotal reason
that â&#x20AC;&#x153;whoaâ&#x20AC;? holds the importance it does is because
of your dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety. Your
hunting dog is excited,
even thrilled, to be hunting at your side. Your dog
may be so thrilled, in fact,
that he does not notice the
rattlesnake, skunk, or porcupine. As the human, you
have to be able to alert
your dog to the danger and
immediately stop him. Other dangers that you might
encounter on your hunt
are swiftly moving rivers
or thin ice atop lakes and
ponds. Beyond that, your
dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excitement can carry
him across roads where vehicles are not alert to your
dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence. It is crucial
that you see the entire situation ahead of you and can

stop your dog in his tracks.
The dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mastery of the
â&#x20AC;&#x153;whoaâ&#x20AC;? command could
save his life.
There are various ways
to train the â&#x20AC;&#x153;whoaâ&#x20AC;? command. One method uses
a sling of sorts that allows the trainer to lift the
dog into the air, removing him from his comfort
zone. There is also the table method that places the
dog atop a table for training. The barrel method is
similar to this, but takes
place on a barrel turned on
its side. The barrel will roll
if the dog moves, so this is
an effective way to teach
the dog to hold still. There
is also the walking method where the training takes
place as you are in forward motion. Regardless of
your method, teaching the
â&#x20AC;&#x153;whoaâ&#x20AC;? command is a very
important element in your
dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training.

Last year, the club purchased 30 tons of
ear corn for wildlife food. Members also
sponsored the Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fishing Derby, held at
Lake Louise in June. Sixty-two kids participated. Hubbard said every young angler
received ďŹ shing gear. Prizes, furnished by
the club and Cabelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, were presented to
the winners in the biggest-ďŹ sh categories.
And of course, they provided hot dogs
and pop for kids and adults alike.
The club donated $750 for the Hand
County 4-H Shooting Sports.
Later on, for the annual youth HuntSAFE course, the club provided clay pigeons and shells, plus pop and pizza.
Young participants in the HuntSAFE
course are invited to a pheasant hunt on
Kenny Werdelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land. Wall Lake Hunting
Club provided clay pigeons and shells,
as well as plenty of food. Two shotguns
were given during the hunt, one provided by the club, and one by hunter Kirby
Growe. The club also provided a youth riďŹ&#x201A;e to a young hunter, whose name was
drawn from those who had purchased
Hand County deer licenses.
Wall Lake Hunting Club was formed
February 6, 1959, and had 75 members,
who shared a passion for hunting, ďŹ shing
and the outdoor life. That tradition continues.

Fluorescent Orange
Big game licensees hunting with a
firearm in SD must wear at least one
exterior garment of fluorescent orange
while hunting. Garments include hat,
shirt, vest, jacket, coat or sweater. Turkey
hunters do not need to wear fluorescent
orange.
Firearms
It is illegal to use an auto-loading or selfloading firearm capable of holding more
than six cartridges to hunt big game;
or capable of being operated as a full
automatic to hunt big game or small
game. Only soft point or expanding
bullets are permitted.

s it has in many years past, Wall Lake
Hunting Club is putting on a feast, an
auction, and a good evening out for outof-state hunters, as well as local residents.
An evening of entertainment is one to everyone.
Meet at the American Legion Hall in
Miller on Monday, Oct. 22. The social
hour begins at 6:30 p.m., with the meal to
be served at 8 p.m.
According to Fred Hubbard, there will
be a couple of .22 riďŹ&#x201A;es given away as
door prizes (you must be present to win).
One shotgun will also be given to a lucky
rafďŹ&#x201A;e winner present at the banquet, and
another will be drawn, in which the winner need not be present.
An auction will also be a featured part
of the evening. Hubbard said many items
have been donated for the auction, including the ever-popular art prints.
Among those donating auction pieces
are out-of-state hunters Gary Kock, Gerald Lehnheer, the Bill Arendt family, and
Miller native Jack Dennis.
Although the yearly get-together is
looked forward to for the good food and
good time, Hubbard said the purpose of
the banquet is to raise money to support
numerous projects during the year.

)RUVHUYLFHWKDWÂśVIDVWDQGIULHQGO\

1HHGQRWEHSUHVHQWWRZLQ

3

%URZQLQJ0D[XV+XQWHU
0XVWEHSUHVHQWWRZLQ

'RRU3UL]HV5XJHUFDODQG+HQU\/HYHUFDO

:DOO/DNH+XQWLQJ&OXE

:LOOLH
6
and Â? Gril
Â?
r
l
Ba

Daily lunch specials
TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

Open Tues. -Fri.

at 11 a.m.

Open Saturday at 4 p.m.
closed Sunday & Monday

Â? Including Hot Beef Combos
Â? Soup and Salad Bar
Â? Grill will be on
Â? Pizzas made to order

Kansas Department of Wildlife and
Parks
Here is one way to begin
preparing pheasants for the
table. Equipment needed:
a sturdy pair of kitchen or
game shears. At all steps
in the process take care to
avoid cutting yourself on
the sharp edges of broken
bones.
Step 1 First, remove the
wings by cutting them off
as close to the body as possible. Again, watch out for
broken bones.
Step 2 Remove both
wings.
Step 3 Remove the head
by cutting through the neck
as close to the body as possible.
Step 4 The next step is
to remove the legs. Remember that you must keep one
leg attached to the bird for
transport. The spur on the
leg identiďŹ es the bird as a
legal cock pheasant.
Step 5 Remove the leg
by cutting at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;kneeâ&#x20AC;?
joint.
Step 6 Starting at the
top of the breast, skin the
bird by pulling the skin toward the tail.
Step 7 As you begin
skinning, the crop will be
exposed.
Step 8 By noting what
food is in the crop, you
can begin to plan your next
hunt to take advantage of
this information.
Step 9 Skin all the way
to the tail. Remove tail by
cutting it off at the point
where it joins the body.
Step 10 Cut along both
sides of the backbone from
neck to tail.
Step 11 Pull backbone
from tail to neck. Most of
the entrails will come with
it. Remove any remaining
entrails and the lungs.
Step 12 After washing in cold water, this bird
is ready for packaging.
Cleaned quickly and properly this bird will make for
some ďŹ ne eating.

he pheasant season is a welcome event to the Miller area.
Hand County one of the top
counties for the number of pheasants harvested per non-resident
hunter and local residents are always ready to extend a welcoming
hand to visitors during hunting season.
Hunters spent more than $8 million in Hand County during the 2010
season, which is a welcome boon to
the economy. According to records,
70,613 pheasants were harvested in
Hand County last year!
Through the years our community
has become a hunterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise by
gearing up to host pheasant hunters.
The business community increases
their capacity and service during the
season. Our airport has extended
the runway and constructed a pilotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
lounge for the convenience of hunters that ďŹ&#x201A;y into our region. Various
community groups cater to meeting
the needs of pheasant hunters.
We are fortunate to live in an area
that has such a vibrant community.
We have top-notch agricultural production, the hospital is expanding,
our business community is secondto-none for a town our size, we have
a wind farm, and the school system
is excellent. Our community boasts
excellent recreational opportunities,
which include golďŹ ng, Lake Louise
Recreation Area, ďŹ shing, a drive-in
theatre and racing cars or go-karts.
Cultural opportunities abound with
an active arts council, historical so-

ciety, and writers group.
On Hand Development Corporation plays a role in assisting our
business community. The mission
of On Hand Development Corporation is to support the growth of new
businesses and assist the expansion
of existing businesses while striving
to improve the overall economy of
the Miller area.
To meet our mission, we employ
a number of strategies. We can assist with business planning, ďŹ nancing, and site location. We work with
many local, state, public and private organizations that support businesses such as the City of Miller, the
Small Business Administration, the
Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OfďŹ ce of Economic Development, and Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation.
We also work closely with the
Miller Civic and Commerce, which
has been very active over the past
year in promoting Miller and improving the business climate in our
area.
eel free to stop in and visit us
anytime. It would be our pleasure to assist you in your business ventures. Even if you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
starting or expanding a business,
but just have some ideas for how
our community could improve, we
would appreciate your input.
With the opportunities that are
available in our area we are looking
forward to being â&#x20AC;&#x153;On Handâ&#x20AC;? for another exciting year!

f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for great food and friendly hospitality, look no
further than the Hi Lite Steakhouse & Lounge, located at 109 N.
Broadway in Miller.
Trish Resel has owned the Hi Lite for 11 years, and she enjoys
meeting hunters who visit the area.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Especially during hunting season, we want to serve our lunch
customers with a quick turn-around time,â&#x20AC;? Trish says. Lunch is
served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with daily specials and soup and sandwich specials.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re anxious to get to the ďŹ eld, call ahead at 853-9296 and
order your meal,â&#x20AC;? Trish suggests.
The supper hour runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, and 5 to 10 p.m. on the Sundays. (Note the Hi-Lite will be open the ďŹ rst three Sundays of hunting season.)
A salad bar is available with the evening meal. Steak is
the specialty, but chicken, walleye and other ďŹ sh specials
are also on the menu. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hunters like the steaks, and we feature prime rib, tenderloin and New York strip,â&#x20AC;? Trish says.
The Hi Lite also has a full range of mixed drinks,
wines and beer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We invite our guests to try our
fabulous martinis or other mixed drinks,â&#x20AC;? Trish
says.
If a large group of hunters plans to come
for the evening meal, Trish suggests calling ahead so the space is ready when
they arrive.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always happy to serve hunters,â&#x20AC;? Trish says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stop by and try the
varied menu we have to offer.â&#x20AC;?

Convenient campground facilities
S & J Campground in St. Lawrence offers
all the amenities youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re
planning to camp during the hunt.
The campgound, located next door to
Willieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steakhouse, has 10 campsites, with
water, sewer, electricity and garbage disposal.
Whether you have a large motor home
or a two-person tent, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enjoy the quiet campground with plenty of parking space.

Hunting dogs are welcome, and rates are
reasonable.
Shirley Peck has owned the campground
for three years. She rents campsites on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Camp next door to an eating establishment, walk across the street to the post ofďŹ ce, or down the block to a gun shop.
For more information, or to make a reservation, call (605) 853-2622 or 204-0642.

he Virginincluding the
ian welďŹ rst two weekcomes
ends. A chicklocals and all November 1 - January 1
en and rib dinhunters
with
ner buffet will
Live
music
every
weekspecial
menu
be
available
plans
during end
during evening
hunting season.
hours the ďŹ rst
Since Miller December 19
two weekends
began, a hotel Customer
Appreciation of the seaand/or dining Night, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m, son, in addiestablishment
tion to the reghas stood on the featuring the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dueling
ular fall menu.
corner of Broad- Duo,â&#x20AC;? Andy Gibson and
Prime rib will
way and East Ryno
be
available
First Street, beFriday and Satginning with the December 29
urday evenings
Vanderbilt Hotel Pre-New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve par- during the ďŹ rst
in 1882.
part of pheasty
with
the
Andy
Gibson
Today,
The
ant season.
Virginian stands band
Sporrer says
on that locaThe Virginian
tion, providing a
also does catergreat place for meals, coffee, meet- ing, for any size event.
pecial events are coming up,
ings and other gatherings.
including live music every
George and Leatha Quinlan of
weekend from November 1
Virginia purchased the former
Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant in September to January 1. December 19 will be
2007 and renamed it The Virgin- Customer Appreciation Night from
ian. The Quinlans also purchased 7:30 to 10:30 p.m, and will feature
the Heidepriem House, which is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dueling Duo,â&#x20AC;? Andy Gibson
now operated as a bed and break- and Ryno. No reservations are
fast. Robin Sporrer is manager of needed, and there will be no cover
The Virginian and Marcie Christo- charge. Wrapping up the year will
be a pre-New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve party on
pherson manages the B&B.
The Virginian is open from 6 December 29, with the Andy Giba.m. and throughout the evening son band playing.
or party bookings or caterhours, and breakfast, lunch and
ing, call 853-0045. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a
dinner are served. In addition to
perfect time to start booking
the restaurant, there are also two
meeting rooms, a game room and for Christmas parties.
Sporrer says that although it
a bar area.
Sporrer says a huntersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; break- gets a bit hectic during hunting
fast buffet will be served the ďŹ rst season, a warm Western welcome
week of pheasant hunting season, is extended to all customers.

Top treatment for manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friend
any hunters consider their
trusty hunting dog a true
and necessary companion
when stalking the pheasants. Dr.
Eric Knock and Dr. Heather Mitchell of Miller Veterinary Clinic are
geared up for hunting season and
taking care of any needs that might
arise.
Dr. Knock says several hunters
stop by before hunting to get the
dogs their yearly vaccinations. And
the clinic always has someone on
call in case of an emergency.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We get a lot of calls when a
dog is injured, perhaps they tangled with barbed wire or have other medical needs,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Knock said.
In addition to providing vaccinations and responding to medical/
surgical needs, Miller Vet Clinic

M

has a full line of ďŹ rst-aid products,
skunk-off spray, de-wormers and
related items. They also carry Science Diet dog food.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do receive a lot of calls after hours,â&#x20AC;? added Dr. Mitchell.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The easiest way to reach us after
hours is to call the ofďŹ ce number,
853-0008, and it will be rerouted.
Regular hours are 8 to 5:30 Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to
noon on Saturdays. Turn at the
Dairy Queen/ALCO road to reach
the clinic.â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of hunters stop by during pheasant season,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Knock
said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know how important the
hunting dogs are, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here
to help with any needs. Next to
calving season, hunting season is
our busiest time of year.â&#x20AC;?

hen you take to the ďŹ eld for
search of the wily pheasant, the
last thing you want to worry
about is uncomfortable footwear.
Polly Shoe Store, located at 118 N.
Broadway, has a full line of boots, shoes
and leisure footwear, including moccasins
and slippers.
Polly Shoe Store has been part of the
Miller business scene for many years, and
Theresa and Les Eschenbaum have been
the owners for nearly 33 years.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Red Wing hunting/work boot is
always popular,â&#x20AC;? Theresa says. Wolverine
hikers are also available for both men and
women. The boots come with the Wolverine iCS wave disk, which has four settings
to choose from, allowing you to customize your comfort.
The disk, located on the heel of the
boot, allows you to adjust the ďŹ rmness,
choose the amount of cushioning, and
add inner and outer support. The outer
support provides extra stability for high
arch, and reduces outward tilt. The in-

ner support allows extra support for low
arch or for reducing inward tilt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a
new concept, and you can move the disk
to provide just what you need,â&#x20AC;? Theresa
explained.
Another top seller is the Jox Sox line,
with the product guaranteed for life. On
a cold fall morning, these socks provide
warmth and comfort.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also have all types of leather-care
products, including waterprooďŹ ng and
weatherprooďŹ ng products,â&#x20AC;? Theresa says.
In addition to all types of boots and
shoes, the Eschenbaums carry a large selection of luggage, health back bags, and
purses.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for bargains, we
have half-price shoes in the back room,â&#x20AC;?
Theresa said. Same high quality, but with
a lower price sticker.
The store is open 9 to 5:30 weekdays,
and 9 to 5 on Saturday. Stop by and check
out the large selection of shoes, boots and
other products.

ce Hardware,
219 N. Broadway, has hunting licenses and a little bit of everything
else for hunters in the
area. The store carries
shells, coolers, clay
pigeons, hand tools
and a variety of other
items you might need
before heading out for
the hunt. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget
batteries for the camera, or other electronic needs.
Although the Ace
Hardware
company

is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
largest member-owned
hardware
cooperatives, local owner John
Niederauer has been
in businessâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ďŹ rst as
Coast to Coast, then
True Value, and now
Ace Hardwareâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for
40 years, and he takes
pride in serving his
customers at the local
level.
Patsy
LeGrand,
Vicky Russell, Gay
Miller Stulken and
Marita Coyle have
been employed at Ace

Hardware for many
yearsâ&#x20AC;Śtheyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be happy to help you with all
your hunting needs.
The store also has
a supply of hunting
vests, and belt pheasant carriers. Stop by
and check out the merchandise.
The store is open
from 8 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. Monday through
Friday, from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on Saturday
and from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. Sunday.

exall Drug has been a mainstay of
the Miller community for many
years. Although it is housed in a
100-year-old building, renovations make
the store welcoming and up-to-date, while
maintaining an old-fashioned soda fountain area.
Pharmacists Travis Anderberg and
Trent Merkwan are quick to point out that
not only does the store have a full range
of health-care needs for humans, Rexall also carries health needs for the dogs
that accompany the hunters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every year
we also have visiting hunters that come
in because they forgot or have run out of
a prescription. We can transfer prescriptions if needed.â&#x20AC;?
The store carries a variety of South Dakota memorabilia, including postcards,
keychains and coffee mugs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jewelry, especially Black Hills Gold, is always a pop-

ular gift item for out-of-state hunters, and
we have a good selection,â&#x20AC;? Travis said.
Visitors are also impressed by the
soda fountain, seldom seen in larger cities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They like our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;world-famousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; malts,â&#x20AC;?
Travis notes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is also a lunch selection available.â&#x20AC;?
He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many visitors also like to
take advantage of our photo service. They
may also print out their own digital photos on our new kiosk machine.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of visitors like the down-home
feeling of the store, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also here
to help with any health problems,â&#x20AC;? Travis said.
Store hours are 8:30 to 5:30 Monday
through Friday, and 8:30 to 3 on Saturday. Call 853-3647. The toll-free number
is 1-800-201-3647. Check out the full service store at millerrexall.com.

Great hunting oďŹ&#x20AC;ered in
y
d
a
natural
habitat
setting
n
a
R
with
R

andy Adamowicz of Wisconsin owns icz has fresh water and snacks always availland near St. Lawrence, right smack able during the day to energize hunters for
in the middle of pheasant county. the next leg of their hunt.
Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making his dream come true on his 80
He even has hunting dogs available, in
acresâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with Pheasant Fun with Randy.
case the hunters need them. He likes to caAdamowicz says the property provides ter to groups of two to ďŹ ve hunters.
prime pheasant hunting, because the land
Adamowicz notes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I want to replihas never been plowed...it is virgin habitat, cate is hunting in a family atmosphere rather
and plenty of pheasants love to call the area than large groups. I hunted with my grandhome.
father and my father, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I grew up
Adamowiczâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land includes two shelter- with, and I believe a lot of hunters would
belts, and Little Turtle Creek runs through like that same experience.â&#x20AC;?
the property, which is all pastureland.
Adamowicz says pheasant hunting, for
With a passion for pheasant hunting that him, is not a hobby---it is a passion. With
spans four generations, Pheasant Fun with his land now available, he wants to share
Randy was
that passion
established
with others
in 2006. Exknow the great joy I had growing up, who want a
tensive
replace to
hunting with close family and friends. good
search in the
hunt, to rering-necked
lax, and to
That is what I want to oďŹ&#x20AC;er here.â&#x20AC;?
pheasant,
~ Randy Adamowicz enjoy the extheir
matperience.
ing patterns and habitat, led to the South
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I consider this a small business just
Dakota farm in Miller. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our land supports during pheasant season,â&#x20AC;? he explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alour love for pheasant hunting in its natural though this is not a large acreage, hunters
form. We do not plant birds,â&#x20AC;? he states.
need to realize you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t correlate the numHe adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Catering to small groups pro- ber of pheasants to the number of acres...
vides our undivided attention to hunt- you have to take into account the type of
ers when we guide, or the ďŹ&#x201A;exibility of acreage. The habitat on this farm holds
hunting the ďŹ elds with your own dog and pheasants.â&#x20AC;?
friends, a facet of hunting which all huntThe land is located northeast of St. Lawers have grown to love. When you pull up to rence, with airport and lodging facilities
our property, you will not see yellow school nearby in Miller, as well as camping sites in
buses that have dropped off large numbers St. Lawrence.
of hunters.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know
Our
famithe great joy
ly-owned
I had growfarm offers
ing up, huntyou pheasing
with
ant hunting
close family
in its purest
and friends.
form. With
That is what
the availabilI want to ofity of our
fer here,â&#x20AC;? he
ďŹ ve-passensays.
ger UTV, no
He can be
hunter needs
reached by
to worry that
calling 262they cannot
914-0901 or
keep up the
by e-mailing
pace of othhim at info@
er hunters in
pheansantthe
group.
fun.net. His
Each huntWebsite
is
er can be acwww.pheascommodatantfun.net.
ed to his own
physical ability level.â&#x20AC;?
Adamow-

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I

At Pheasant Fun we strive to provide an amazing
wild pheasant hunt. We cater to small groups providing greater customer service. Our birds are 100%
wild and we are constantly maintaining and improving our hunting land. With our low prices, diverse
habitat and an abundant number of wild pheasants,
you will experience a memorable hunt.

Pump â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Pak oďŹ&#x20AC;ers quality
food, served with a smile
ump â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Pak is a busy place.
Obviously, the store sells diesel
and gasoline. But owner Lorelei
Simons says a big draw is the food.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hot Stuff Pizza and Smash Hits
Deli bring in a lot of customers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
good, quality food.â&#x20AC;?
Lorelei has owned Pump â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Pak for
13 years, and she gives much credit for
the operationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success to her employees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are just the best. They are
great people,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are also
knowledgeable if hunters come in with
questions. We know the names of people who have lands to hunt on. We enjoy our visitors and want to make them
feel at home.â&#x20AC;?
The store carries a full line of snacks,
pop and beer, ice and ice pops and convenience store items.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also have cold 12-packs and gallons of water. The hunters appreciate
that.â&#x20AC;?
Lorelei promotes their full line of
breakfast items, including breakfast piz-

P

za, burritos and sandwiches, as well as
coffee, hot chocolate and cappuccino.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many of the hunters appreciate this,
they can pick up their breakfast and be
on their way.â&#x20AC;?
The hunters also like the â&#x20AC;&#x153;one-stopâ&#x20AC;?
shopping when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to get to the
ďŹ elds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They can get their gas, ice and
lunch to go,â&#x20AC;? Lorelei said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also
have an ATM machine, and we do have
movie rentals and a video lottery area.â&#x20AC;?
Pump â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Pak is open from 6 a.m. to
11 p.m., Monday through Saturday and
6 a.m to 10 p.m. on Sundays. The kitchen is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Lorelei says Pump â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Pak was a great
business opportunity. She and husband
Dale (Simonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Outdoor Sports) have two
grown children, both of whom are in
the National Guard. Michael is carpenter, and Anna is a photographer. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a
busy life, but Lorelei says shethrives on
it, and thePump â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Pakemployees are
always happy to welcome visitors to the
area.

Look no further
for outdoor needs
imonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Outdoor Sports, owned
by Dale Simons, is located on the
south side of Highway 14 in St.
Lawrence, on the east side of town. If
youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for ďŹ rearms and equipment, Simons has a full inventory.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The focus is on ďŹ rearms, ammo and
accessories for guns,â&#x20AC;? Dale explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I
have riďŹ&#x201A;es, shotguns, handguns, black
powder guns, a good selection of ammunition and accessories for guns.â&#x20AC;?
This includes high-powered deer riďŹ&#x201A;es as well as shotguns for small game.
Dale says people buy handguns for personal protection, but also for sport.
Dale grew up in the area, and was always involved in the hunting seasons.
His interest just kept growing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had
an uncle who had a federal ďŹ rearms license. When he decided not to renew
his license, I applied, and got itâ&#x20AC;?
Application must be made through
BATFE. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It includes being ďŹ ngerprinted
and having a background check done,
and paying the license fee,â&#x20AC;? Dale says.
The license must be renewed every
three years.

S

Dalesold ďŹ rearms on a part-time basis for 19 years. He went full-time, with
the store in the summer of 2007. As
word got around, his customer base has
expanded, and Dale says he has several
customers from areas east of Miller.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always glad to see the hunters
come, andthis is a busy time of year,â&#x20AC;?
Dale says. An avid hunter himself, he
says he â&#x20AC;&#x153;makes timeâ&#x20AC;? to get in the ďŹ eld
a while the ďŹ rst couple of weekends,
when friends and relatives come to the
area for hunting.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;It sounds like we have a good
pheasant population this year, although
thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not as much CRP acreage,â&#x20AC;? Dale
says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We might have to work a little
harder to get them, butI think the numbers are there.â&#x20AC;?
He welcomes having huntersstop by
the store, not only to purchase guns, but
also to chat a bit.
The store is open from 9 a.m. to 6
p.m. Monday through Friday. During
the fall, he will also be open from 9
a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The phone
number is 853-3430.

â&#x20AC;˘ RiďŹ&#x201A;es
â&#x20AC;˘ Shotguns
â&#x20AC;˘ Handguns

Welcome Hunters!
Look no furtherâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;we have what it takes to meet your outdoor sporting needs!

Thinking of buying a
hunting vehicle this year?
Michael Jacobs, regional manager with Club Car
and an avid hunter, tells
you how to make the right
choice and prevent buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
remorse.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finding the vehicle
that works for you depends on your style of
hunting and living,â&#x20AC;? Jacobs says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To uncover that, ask yourself the
following six questions.
Then, go one step higher than you think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll
need. That gives you ďŹ&#x201A;exibility and helps you avoid
the regret that comes after
getting stuck miles away
from your truck or being unable to access good
hunting sites.â&#x20AC;?
1. How Will You Use
the Vehicle? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most people use their vehicles
for more than hunting,â&#x20AC;?
says Jacobs. Do you plan
to cruise the beach? Do
chores around your land?
Go trail riding? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knowing
this up front will help you
get more miles for your
dollar.â&#x20AC;?
Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also need to
think about where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll
be hunting. If you plan to
park your vehicle on the
side of the road and walk
to the hunting site, a pickup or Jeep may be right
for you. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But if you want
to drive into the woods, an
all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or
utility transportation vehicle (UTV) will be a better
option,â&#x20AC;? Jacobs says.
ATVs vs. UTVs: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
the Difference? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re
looking for a fast, nimble, less expensive vehicle,
consider an ATV. Originally designed for trail riding, these lightweight gasoline-powered recreational
vehicles are easy to trailer and hide. They feature a
motorcycle-style seat and
handlebars with a throttle
and brake lever.
On the downside, ATVs
are designed for one rider
and they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have car-

go beds. They can comfortably carry only a guy
and his gun. â&#x20AC;&#x153;ATVs are not
good work vehicles, and
there are no cabs for safety
or weather protection,â&#x20AC;? Jacobs says.
UTVs, on the other
hand, are a cross between
a pickup and an ATV. Designed speciďŹ cally for offroad use, they are great for
hunting, work and neighborhood transportation.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;These multi-purpose
vehicles drive like automobiles and have cargo beds,
but they have smaller
wheel bases than trucks,
so they can weave in and
out of trees and navigate
narrow paths,â&#x20AC;? says Jacobs.
Like ATVs, UTVs are
easy to trailer and hide.
Many come with seat belts
and roll over protection
systems. And theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re available in a range of models.
But UTVs are a bit more
expensive than ATVs, and
theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not quite as nimble.
2. How Many Passengers Do You Want to Carry? If you want to hunt
with family and friends,
think ahead and select a
vehicle large enough to
accommodate your party.
That may not be a pickup
or ATV.
3. Gas, Electric or Diesel? People often think
they need to buy a gas
or diesel-powered vehicle to get a longer range,
but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not true. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Electric vehicles will also give
you sufďŹ cient range for a
good dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunting,â&#x20AC;? Jacobs says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, seasoned hunters often prefer
electric vehicles because
they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t create fumes
and noises that frighten
animals, so they help preserve your hunting area.â&#x20AC;?
If you buy a gasoline
or diesel-powered vehicle, look for a big tank and
long range.
4. Two- or Four-Wheel
Drive? That depends on

how far off the beaten
path you venture. If you
mainly travel trails, a 4x2
may be ďŹ ne.
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be crossing
creeks; driving in snow,
rain or mud; climbing
hills; or covering rocky terrain, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want a 4x4. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A
4x4 will get you into prime
hunting areas and help
you avoid getting stuck in
the woods,â&#x20AC;? Jacobs says.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;And 4x4s come with seat
belts and roll over protection systems.â&#x20AC;?
Compare Four-wheel
Drive Systems If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve
got your heart set on a
4x4, Jacobs suggests you
do your due diligence.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are big differences
in ease of use and performance,â&#x20AC;? he says.
With most four-wheel
drive systems, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have
to push the right levers,
select the right gears and
worry about locks. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
more, most four-wheel
drive utility vehicles require you to come to a full
stop â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or even back up â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
to engage the locking differentials.
5. What About Ground
Clearance and Axle Articulation? If you want
to get into extreme terrain, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need a 4x4
UTV with excellent ground
clearance and good axle
articulation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Axle articulation is the ability to travel uneven terrain while
maintaining ground contact on all four tires and
preserving traction and
torque,â&#x20AC;? Jacobs says.
6. Other Considerations? Compare bed size
and payload. These can
differ considerably from
model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer.
Look for a vehicle designed to accommodate
the hunting accessories
you want. Those might include ďŹ&#x201A;oor-mounted gun
racks, canopy tops, windshields, nerf bars, brush
guards, camouďŹ&#x201A;age paint,
heaters, stereos and more.

Highplains Pheasant Hunting is part of Cannon River Ranches,
located in central South Dakota. Highplains Pheasant Hunting
offers a wide range of habitat for your hunting
pleasure. There are endless opportunities to fill your limit,
whether it is CRP, creek bottoms, tree belts, food plots or grass strips.

Highplains Pheasant
Hunting oďŹ&#x20AC;ers all
the comforts of home
Accommodations at Highplains Pheasant Hunting are comfortable, to say the
least, with spacious sleeping areas, leather
chairs and couches, state of the art cooking facilities and plenty of room to kick
back after a day of hunting.
Highplains consists of 1,200 acres, and
is part of Cannon River Ranches, a 20,000acre ranch located 18 miles south of Miller
on Highway 45.
Highplains Pheasant Hunting, now in
its second year of operation, operates as
a hunting preserve from September 1 to
March 31, but also provides services during the regular pheasant season (October
20, 2012-January 6, 2013).
The ranch and hunting preserve is

owned by Lawrence Coss, and Dale and
LeAnn Suhn are the managers.
Dale Suhn says the hunting lodge
sleeps 15, and an additional house sleeps
six more. Groups of 12 to 15 have exclusive use of the facilities.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We provide everything but food,â&#x20AC;?
Suhn commented. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a fullyequipped kitchen. There is a place for
hunters to clean their birds, and then
package and freeze them at the lodge until
they are ready to leave. We provide ďŹ eld
guides, a kennel for the dogsâ&#x20AC;Śa good
place to get away.â&#x20AC;?
Suhn said the idea for a hunting preserve â&#x20AC;&#x153;sort of evolved.â&#x20AC;? He said as the facilities were improved and expanded, it
seemed a hunting preserve would be a
good ďŹ t. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The area is sort of isolated, and
it provides a great place to get together
and enjoy hunting for three or four days.â&#x20AC;?
Suhn urges hunters to contact them by
calling 605-852-2306 or 605-870-1135. For
more information, go to www.highplainspheasants.com.